Taking Chances – A Fresenius Kabi IMP

You can do what is generally expected of you or you can exceed your own expectations. Having developed in a traditional pharmaceutical academic environment, my classmates and I were mostly directed into work in a community or hospital pharmacy. However, the industrial sector also contributes to the pharmaceutical field and requires pharmaceutical expertise.

Working in the pharmaceutical industry has always been my goal. Knowing that you can contribute to a medicinal product’s development and being of use in different fields appeals to the scientific background of my pharmacy studies. Additionally, you should never forget that the drug is only mediating the contact between you and a patient who you direct your working effort into.

If you are curious about the working day of an intern in the pharma industry, do not expect to hear that there are important tasks entrusted to you which you discuss over coffee breaks. As with any internship, you get your first real-life work experience and learn about areas beyond the pharmaceutical field.

The following points create the preconditions of a student’s successful application, but they finally make more sense when in use. Multitasking (there are three tasks on your table expected to be finished by the end of the day – what is the priority?), multicultural awareness (not about speaking about the national food of your foreign colleague, but an ability to listen to him/her and cooperate) and last but not least, learning how to self-reflect (how did I contribute today to the task’s progress and the department that stands behind it?).

As the internship gives you a lot, the company also looks for young talent to bring new ideas and an international perspective to topics. If the needs at both sides are met, there is the possibility that your student contract will develop into a full time one.

“Maybe the future is like rowing for shore. Your only choice is to try or give up. Now I know it was definitely worth trying”.

IMP is a great example of cooperation between established and soon-to-be professionals. Fresenius Kabi, a global healthcare company that specialises in lifesaving medicines and technologies for infusion, transfusion and clinical nutrition. Fresenius Kabi accepts interns on a regular basis and EPSA has already delivered its fourth intern since 2015. According to an internal discussion regarding upcoming projects, the cooperation between EPSA and Fresenius Kabi may deepen in the near future.

Take that chance, learn through osmosis and opportunity, seek for people willing to mentor you and let yourself become a better pharmacist!